Superior Spider-Man #17Review

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Miguel O'Hara is back on the scene.

By Jesse Schedeen

Anyone who loved Spider-Man 2099 during the '90s or the previous two Spider-Man video games featuring Miguel O'Hara needs no excuse to run out and buy Superior Spider-Man #17. This issue joins a growing list of books to dabble in the fallout of Age of Ultron and the damaged timestream of the Marvel Universe. But despite the fanboy appeal of seeing these two Spider-Men clash, what really stands out about this issue is how neatly the time travel conflict fits into Slott's ongoing plans.

Slott settles in instantly with the futuristic 2099 landscape, annoying slang and all. After showcasing Miguel inaction, Slott quickly develops a logical reason to send the character back in time and battle Otto. It all ties in nicely with growing tensions at Horizon Labs and the return of Liz Allen and little Normie Osborn. Slott, continuity maven that he is, is able to weave some cool little ties between the two time periods that one assumes have been in the planning stage for a while.

The execution of the script does have its flaws. Slott relies overly much on old-school thought balloons and exposition-heavy dialogue. These elements occur especially during the 2099 scenes as he works quickly to re-establish Miguel's world and his connection to Tyler Stone. A necessary evil, perhaps, but this is hardly the first issue to suffer similar flaws. At times the pacing on this series is too rapid to let the characters breathe.

Ryan Stegman returns to the helm for this clash of Spider-Men, proving once again why he's the greatest asset in Slott's lineup of collaborators. Rarely has Spider-Man 2099 looked this powerful or dynamic, right down to the distinct texture of his suit. Next issue should be an even greater spectacle as the battle between these characters really gets underway.